Take a Letter Maria

Album: R.B. Greaves (1969)
Charted: 2
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  • Last night as I got home, about a half past ten
    There was the woman I thought I knew, in the arms of another man
    I kept my cool, I ain't no fool, let me tell you what happened then
    I packed some clothes and I walked out, and I ain't going back again

    [Chorus:]
    So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
    Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
    So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
    Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life

    You've been many things but most of all a good secretary to me
    And it's times like this I feel you've always been close to me
    Was I wrong to work nights to try to build a good life
    All work and no play has just cost me a wife

    [Chorus]

    When a man loves a woman it's hard to understand
    That she would find more pleasure in the arms of another man
    I never really noticed how sweet you are to me
    It just so happens I'm free tonight, would you like to have dinner with me

    [Chorus]

    So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
    Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Jamesb from Diamond Bar Ca What a smash - Wish it could have got to Number 1 - Love the drumming
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyExactly fifty years ago today on November 16th, 1969 "Take A Letter Marie" by R.B. Greaves peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Wedding Bell Blues"* by the 5th Dimension...
    The rest of the Top 10 on November 16th, 1969:
    At #3. "Something" by The Beatles
    #4. "And When I Die"* by Blood, Sweat and Tears
    #5. "Smile A Little Smile For Me" by The Flying Machine
    #6. "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam
    #7. "Come Together" by The Beatles
    #8. "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" by Stevie Wonder
    #9. "Suspicious Mind" by Elvis Presley
    #10. "I Can't Get Next To You" by The Temptations
    R.I.P. to both R.B. Greaves {1943 - 2012} and Laura Nyro {1947 - 1997}...
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, both "Wedding Bell Blues" and "And When I Die" were composed by Laura Nyro...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 12th 1969, "Take A Letter Maria" by R.B. Greaves entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #61; and on November 16th, 1969 it peaked at #2 {for 1 week} and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #10 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart and #3 on the Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    One year later in 1970 it was covered by Anthony Armstrong Jones; his version peaked at #8 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
    And then in 1999 Doug Stone's covered version reached #45 on the Hot Country singles chart...
    The week R.B.'s "Take A Letter Maria" was at #2, the #1 record for that week was 'Wedding Bell Blues" by the Fifth Dimension...
    R.I.P. Mr. Greaves, born Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves the III {1943 - 2012}.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhVery fun song to listen to and sing along with!
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI remember this song.Also a good story packaged with it.
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaGreat song. Wonderful little story packaged inside it.
  • Barry from Greenville, NcR.B.'s actual name is Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves and he's the nephew of Sam Cooke. Half Native American, he was raised on a Seminole reservation in California.
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